Singer-domanski resin MMF/reimplantation device

ABSTRACT

A resin MMF/reimplantation device is provided with a dental arch bar that includes an elongated pliable splint and a plurality of individual spaced apart attachment members. The pliable splint includes an interiorly facing side surface and an exteriorly facing side surface. The pliable splint includes a curable component that cures from a moldable state to a rigid state in less than one minute upon being activated. Each of the attachment members is partially embedded in the pliable splint with each of the attachment members having a protuberance portion extending outwardly from the exteriorly facing side surface of the pliable splint.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to reconstructive oral surgery due to facial trauma. More specifically, the present invention relates to a resin MMF/reimplantation device (e.g., an intermaxillary fixation device) that used in restoration and healing of maxillo-mandibular injuries such as temporary fixation of teeth and/or jaw segments.

Background Information

Sometimes a person fractures his or her jaw or mandible. Jaw fractures often occur because of interpersonal trauma or fights, motor vehicle accidents and spotting injuries or falls. Typically, jaw fractures require treatment, and surgery is often recommended. There are two main systems that are in use today for immobilizing a person's jaw. The first main system uses metal arch bars (e.g., Erich arch bars that are made of fully annealed stainless steel) which are typically to temporarily attach to the patient's teeth by circumdental wires, while the second main system uses maxillornandibular fixation (MMF) screws.

In order to reduce and stabilize jaw fractures (intermaxillary fixation) with arch bars, the patient's teeth are wired together using arch bars to immobilize the jaw. In particular, two or more arch bars are attached to the patient's teeth by circumdental wires. The arch bars are cut to the appropriate lengths and are secured by the circumdental wires which are looped tightly around the teeth. The upper and lower jaws are drawn together by tightening inter-arch wires that are looped around hooks carried on each arch bar.

In order to stabilize jaw fractures (intermaxillary fixation) with MMF screws, the patient's teeth are wired together using MMF screws that are screwed into patient to immobilize the jaw. The upper and lower jaws are drawn together by tightening wires that are pulled through holes in MMF screws and then tightened.

This conventional wiring procedures using arch bars or MMF screws requires high levels of advanced medical and dental training. Moreover, these two procedures are potentially very traumatic to the patient. Both arch bars and MMF screws are very irritating to patient's natural intraoral soft tissue and can cause damage and infection. During placement of conventional arch bars, the patient's gums are typically penetrated or pierced in an iatrogenic manner during wiring with circumdental wires. During placement of MMF screws, bore holes are created in the jaw using an osteotome that can result in tooth root damage. As circumdental wires are sharp and easily penetrate surgical gloves, their use places the surgeon at risk of blood born pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis. Additionally, conventional procedures that utilize circumdental wires or MMF screws are also very time consuming for both the wiring procedure and the removal procedure. Also removal of the arch bars can be very painful for the patient.

In view of the problems in these conventional wiring procedures, alternative procedures have been developed in which the arch bars are directly bonded to the patient's teeth without using circumdental wiring. However, these directly bonded arch bars do not provide for a simplified and efficient manner in which the arch bars may be secured or stabilized to the teeth prior to the adhesive drying. This may prevent the arch bars from staying stationary during the adhesive process. Additionally, many of these arch bars are manufactured using a metal mesh, in which the application of the metal mesh proves to be difficult to achieve high bonding strength to the patient's teeth.

One example, an arch bar that is directly bonded to the patient's teeth without using circumdental wiring is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,188. This patent discloses an arch bar that includes a plurality of ligature hooks and a metallic mesh layer on the back surface of the arch bar. The metallic mesh layer forms an adhesive bonding attachment structure for attaching the arch bar to the tooth enamel. Other examples of arch bars that are directly bonded to the patient's teeth without using circumdental wiring are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,202 and 5,184,955.

SUMMARY

Both MMF screws and conventional arch bars have a tendency to loosen over time as the wires deform under the force of the patient's muscles of mastication. This may necessitate reoperation in some cases or a poorer healing result. The dental arch bar of the present disclosure is not subject to deformation. Another advantage of the dental arch bar of the present disclosure is that is they can be used to stabilize/reimplant teeth, where MMF screws cannot, while conventional Erich arch bars typically do a poor job and/or are not suitable in most cases. Thus, the dental arch bar of the present disclosure is more flexible and has greater range of application as compared to the conventional arch bars and the MMF screws.

In view of the state of the known technology, there exists a need for a less invasive and less time consuming procedure for immobilizing a person's jaw. Thus, a dental arch bar is presented in this disclosure that is directly bond to a patient's teeth so as to avoid the trauma of the conventional wiring procedure. Also the dental arch bar of this disclosure is relatively easy to use and decreases the surgery time in comparison to the conventional procedures that are discussed above. Further, the dental arch bar of this disclosure is safer for surgeons to apply much more quickly than conventional systems.

In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect presented in this disclosure is to provide a dental arch bar that basically comprises an elongated pliable splint and a plurality of individual spaced apart attachment members. The pliable splint includes an interiorly facing side surface and an exteriorly facing side surface. The pliable splint includes a curable component that cures from a moldable state to a rigid state upon application of a curing source. Each of the attachment members is partially embedded in the pliable splint with each of the attachment members having a protuberance portion extending outwardly from the exteriorly facing side surface of the pliable splint.

This aspect and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the disclosed dental arch bar will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of dental arch bars that are directly bonded to a patient's upper and lower teeth without using circumdental wiring in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a pair of dental arch bars that are directly bonded to a patient's upper and lower teeth without using circumdental wiring but wherein the arch bars have been cut to a desired length;

FIG. 3 is a facial side elevational view of the upper arch bar illustrated in FIG. 1 in its prior to use condition;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper arch bar illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 showing the gingival edge of the upper arch bar in its prior-to-use condition;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the upper arch bar illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 showing the gingival edge of the upper arch bar after being deformed to a use condition;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the upper arch bar illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the upper arch bar as seen along section line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing one of the attachment members embedded in the pliable splint;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the upper and tower arch bars directly bonded to a patient's upper and lower teeth as seen along section line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, of an upper arch bar having an alternative configuration of the pliable splint;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an intermaxillary fixation kit that includes a pair of the dental arch bar illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a facial side elevational view of an integrated upper-lower arch bar illustrated in FIG. 1 accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a resin MMF/reimplantation device (e.g., an intermaxillary fixation arrangement) is illustrated that includes upper and lower dental arch bars 10 and a plurality of elastomeric ligature connectors 12 in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 are directly bonded to a patient's upper and lower teeth 14 and 16, respectively, without using circumdental wiring in accordance with one illustrative embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the patient's jaw is held closed by the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 interconnecting the upper and lower dental arch bars 10. While elastomeric ligature connectors (e.g., rubber bands) are illustrated for interconnecting the upper and lower dental arch bars 10, it will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field from this disclosure that other types of ligature connectors can be used such as metal inter-arch wire loops (e.g., twenty-six gauge wire). Moreover, the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 are not limited to the depicted arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2. Rather, the arrangement of the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 will depend upon the particular patient's condition.

In FIG. 2, the dental arch bars 10 have been cut to a shorter length to illustrate the versatility of the dental arch bars 10. While the dental arch bars 10 have been cut to the same length, it will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field from this disclosure that the dental arch bars 10 can be cut to different lengths as needed and/or desired. The dental arch bars 10 will hereinafter be primarily discussed with respect to its uncured or pre-cured state, unless otherwise specified.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 are identical. However, the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 have opposite orientations (i.e., generally mirror images of each other) when bonded to a patient's upper and lower teeth 14 and 16. Thus, each of the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 will be hereinafter merely referred to as the dental arch bar 10. Of course, the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 do not need to be identical. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper and lower dental arch bars 10 have been cured (i.e., hardened) and adhesively bonded to the patient's upper and lower teeth 14 and 16. FIGS. 3 to 7 show one of the dental arch bars 10 in the uncured state.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 7, the dental arch bar 10 will be discussed in more detail in its uncured state. Basically the dental arch bar 10 includes an elongated pliable splint 18 and a plurality of individual spaced apart attachment members 20. The pliable splint 18 constitutes a pliable base member of the dental arch bar 10 that is a one-piece, unitary member. The pliable splint 18 is formed of a moldable material that deforms under pressure to a contour of a patient's teeth. One example of a light-curing composite resin that can be used for the pliable splint 18 is Revotek LC™, which is sold by GC America Inc. Preferably, the moldable material of the pliable splint 18 is deformable and moldable in all directions. The term “pliable” as used herein means a material that has a plasticity such that the material retains a shape attained by pressure deformation (i.e., molded or altered). Here, the pliable splint 18 has a plasticity such that the material retains a shape attained by pressure deformation in all directions.

Each of the attachment members 20 includes an anchoring portion 20 a and a protuberance portion 20 b. The anchoring portion 20 a is at least partially embedded in the pliable splint 18. The anchoring portion 20 a preferably has a non-circular cross section that resists turning and/or other movement of the attachment member 20 relative to the pliable splint 18. However, the attachment members 20 are adjustable relative to the pliable splint 18 by applying pressure to the attachment members 20 due to the pliable nature of the pliable splint 18. In other words, the anchoring portions 20 a of the attachment members 20 are adjustably supported in the pliable splint 18 without deforming the attachment members 20. The protuberance portion 20 b extends from the anchoring portion 20 a and out of the pliable splint 18 to form an attachment point for the elastomeric ligature connectors 12. The protuberance portion 20 b of the attachment members 20 are illustrated as hooks. In the illustrated embodiment, the protuberance portions 20 b (e.g., the hooks) of the attachment members 20 are equally spaced apart by about eight millimeters. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field from this disclosure that other shapes, such as studs, can be used for the protuberance portion 20 b of the attachment members 20, and that any suitable spacing between the protuberance portions 20 b the attachment members 20 can be used as needed and/or desired. The attachment members 20 are hard rigid members that can be made of any suitable material such as stainless steel.

As explained below, the pliable splint 18 is cured to form a hard rigid splint that can stabilize the patient's teeth and/or jaw. However, in the uncured or pre-cured state, the pliable splint 18 is preferably formed of a moldable material that retains its shape upon bending. In particular, the pliable splint 18 is constructed of a material that is moldable to conform to the shape of the patient's teeth, and that is subsequently curable to a rigid member that is sufficient to stabilize the patient's teeth and/or jaw. Preferably, the material of the pliable splint 18 has a viscosity of modeling clay such that the dental arch bars 10 do not sag at room temperature (e.g., in a range of about sixty-two degrees Fahrenheit to about eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit). In the illustrated embodiment, the material of the pliable splint 18 is a light curable resin composite having a light curable component. Of course, the material of the pliable splint 18 can have other components for strength as needed and/or desired. Also the composite resin of the pliable splint 18 have a dual-cure property (tight-curable and self-curable) if needed and/or desired. In any case, the pliable splint 18 is formed of a non-flowable material with a self-supporting non-sagging) viscosity and a moldable property. The pliable splint 18 is basically a putty stick that won't appreciably (i.e., noticeably with the human eye) droop or sag when held at one end in a cantilever manner over a period of time of at least one minute, but is bendable and moldable under pressure. Thus, the pliable splint 18 is a malleable resin with a plasticity such that the pliable splint 18 retains a shape attained by pressure deformation (i.e., molded or altered). Various self-supporting light-curable composites are known that can be used for the pliable splint 18. However, the material of the pliable splint 18 is not limited to a light curable material. The pliable splint 18 can be cured (i.e., hardened) in other ways such as using heat to cure the material of the pliable splint 18, or using an autopolymerizing polymethylmethacrylate material for the pliable splint 18.

The pliable splint 18 includes an interiorly facing side surface 18 a and an exteriorly facing side surface 18 b. The interiorly facing side surface 18 a contacts the surface of the patient's teeth and conforms to the shape of the patient's teeth. While the protuberance portion 20 b of the attachment members 20 are illustrated as extending out of the exteriorly facing side surface 18 b, the attachment members 20 can be configured such a protuberance portion extends out of top and/or bottom of the pliable splint 18 as needed and/or desired. Moreover, while the surfaces 18 a and 18 b are illustrated as generally flat, parallel surfaces in its original unused state as seen in FIG. 7, the pliable splint 18 can have a variety of transverse cross sections. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative dental arch bar 10′ that has a pliable splint 18′ with a circular transverse cross section. It will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field that the shape of the pliable splint is not limited to a rectangular or circular transverse cross section as illustrated. The pliable splint 18′ is identical to the pliable splint 18, except for its transverse cross sectional shape. The dental arch bar 10′ of FIG. 9 has a plurality of attachment members 20′ (only one shown). The attachment members 20′ are longitudinally spaced similar to the first embodiment. Here, each of the attachment members 20′ includes an anchoring portion 20 a′ and a protuberance portion 20 b′. The shapes of the anchoring portions 20 a′ and the protuberance portions 20 b′ are not limited to the illustrated shapes. For example, in the case of an attachment member that is shaped as a stud, the anchoring portion can be a post shape with or without annular ribs. Also, the attachment members are not limited to one-piece members as illustrated. For example, the protuberance portion can be attached to the anchoring portion in a removable manner such as using a screw type connection.

The pliable splint 18 has a viscosity such that the attachment members 20 normally remain stationary in the pliable splint 18. However, preferably, the relative position and/or orientation of the attachment members 20 relative to the pliable splint 18 can be physically adjusted within a prescribed amount without compromising the overall integrity of the dental arch bar 10 when cured. The light-curable resin component of the pliable splint 18 cures to a rigid state in less than one minute upon application of a curing source. More preferably, the light-curable resin component of the pliable splint 18 cures to a rigid state in about twenty to thirty seconds upon application of a curing source having a prescribed wavelength (e.g., 840 nanometers). Preferably, the curing wavelength of the light-curable resin component of the pliable splint 18 is within the visible light spectrum. The light-curable resin component of the pliable splint 18 will cure under regular ambient light, but will cure faster when subjected with higher powered and more focused spectrum light.

Now, one potential procedure will now be discussed for using the dental arch bars 10 of the present disclosure, which are to be directly bonded onto the tooth enamel of the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the use of the dental arch bars 10 of the present disclosure is not limited to the following procedure. In other words, the order of some of the steps can be changed as needed and/or desired.

First, the dental arch bars 10 are cut to the appropriate lengths for the intended procedure such as, for example, the two procedures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Next, the procedure of directly bonding the dental arch bars 10 to the rows of the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 may be carried out by first removing plaque and/or other substances from the exterior tooth surface of the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 by any conventional procedure such as using a standard toothbrush with conventional toothpaste. Alternatively, the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 may be cleansed further with chlorohexadine gluconate for further removing any substances remaining on the surfaces of the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16.

After the plaque and/or other substances has been removed from the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16, then an acid etching gel may be used on the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 for micro-mechanical retention. The acid etching gel may be of a material such as phosphoric acid etchant or other suitable etchant. The teeth can be etched with a thirty-two to thirty-seven percent phosphoric acid solution or gel for fifteen to twenty seconds. The acid etching gel is then rinsed off with water or saline. A frosted appearance will show when the teeth have been dried. In the case a patient having a crown and/or a bridge, a two percent hydroflouric gel can alternatively be used to etch the crown and/or the bridge.

Following the application of etching gel and after the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 have been substantially dried, a dental bonding agent is applied and light cured for a few seconds. Dental bonding agents come in one and two step version. Alternatively, an all in one etching-bonding agent can be used to combine the above mentioned steps. After the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16 have been properly primed with the dental bonding agent, the dental bonding agent is then light cured for a few seconds. Alternatively, a one-step product can be used that performs etching, priming and bonding in a single application.

Now, applied after the bonding agent is cured, the dental arch bars 10 are manually placed against the upper and lower teeth 14 and 16, such that the pliable splints 18 extend the desired amount for the intended procedure, e.g., from the first molar on one side of patient to the first molar on a second side of the patient. The pliable splints 18 will typically need to be cured for ten to twenty seconds per area depending on the intensity of the curing source. While the curing of the pliable splints 18 are performed after both of the elongated pliable splints 18 are placed on the upper and lower teeth of the patient, the order of the procedure can be changed as needed and/or desired. For example, a first one of the pliable splints 18 can be placed on one of the upper and lower teeth of the patient and then cured before a second one of the pliable splint 18 is placed on the other of the upper and lower teeth of the patient and then subsequently cured.

Once the both of the pliable splints 18 have been cured, the upper and lower jaws are drawn together by applying the elastomeric ligature connectors 12. The elastomeric ligature connectors 12 are looped around adjacent ones of the attachment members 20 that project from the pliable splints 18. Of course, other types of connectors can be used as needed and/or desired.

After an appropriate term of healing and recovery, the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 are cut, and the pliable splints 18 are debonded from the patient's teeth. Preferably, a debonding plier is used to remove the pliable splints 18.

It will now be appreciated that the dental arch bars 10 of the present disclosure substantially simplifies and improves the direct bonding attachment of a dental splint to a patient's teeth for the restoration and healing of maxillo-mandibular injuries, including the reduction and temporary fixation of teeth, teeth rows and jaw segments.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a sample intermaxillary fixation kit 60 is illustrated for carrying out the above mentioned procedure of using the dental arch bars 10 of the present disclosure. Of course, the intermaxillary fixation kit of the present disclosure is not limited to the intermaxillary fixation kit 60 illustrated in FIG. 10. Basically, the intermaxillary fixation kit 60 preferably includes a container 62 that includes a pair of the dental arch bars 10 and a plurality of the elastomeric ligature connectors 12. Preferably, two different sizes of the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 are provided in the intermaxillary fixation kit 60. For example, the elastomeric ligature connectors 12 can be ⅜ inch or ¼ inch non-latex elastics with some of the elastics having a medium force of four ounces and some of the elastics having a heavier force of six ounces. Instead of the elastomeric ligature connectors 12, the intermaxillary fixation kit 60 could be provided with ligature wires.

The intermaxillary fixation kit 60 preferably further includes two acid etching gel syringes 64 of thirty-two to thirty-seven percent phosphoric acid solution or gel, two applicator tips 66 and 68, a primer 68, a dental bonding agent 70, a light curing device 72, a removal or debonding tool 74 (e.g., a debonding plier), a pair of rotary instrument 76, two pieces of fine sandpaper 78 and two additional etchant gel tubes 80 for crowns and bridges. All of these items of the intermaxillary fixation kit 60 are conventional items, except for the dental arch bars 10. The light curing device 72 is configured to output a light having a prescribed wavelength that cures the curable component of the pliable splints 18 upon application of the light on the pliable splints 18 for a prescribed period of time. The light curing device 72 will depend on the type of material selected for the pliable splints 18. The rotary instrument 76, and the sandpaper 78 are provided to roughen ceramic surfaces such as crowns and bridges so that the dental arch bars 10 can be bonded to them as well, if necessary. Optionally, the debonding tool 74 is included for removing the dental arch bars 10.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an integrated upper-lower dental arch bar 100 is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment. Basically, the integrated upper-lower dental arch bar 100 includes an upper dental arch bar 118A, a lower dental arch bar 118B and a plurality of connectors 122. The upper and lower dental arch bars 42 and 44 are connected together by the connectors 122 to form an integrated unit. The upper dental arch bar 110A has an elongated pliable splint 118A and a plurality of attachment members 120A. Similarly, the lower dental arch bar 110B has an elongated pliable splint 118B and a plurality of attachment members 120B. The pliable splints 118A and 118B are identical to the pliable splint 18, discussed above, except that portions of the connectors 122 are embedded into the pliable splints 118A and 118B for interconnecting the pliable splints 118A and 118B together.

In view of the similarity between the integrated upper-lower dental arch bar 100 and the dental arch bar 10, the integrated upper-lower dental arch bar 100 will not be discussed in further detail herein for the sake of brevity. The number of the connectors 122 can be varied as needed and/or desired. Thus, the number of the connectors 122 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Preferably, the connectors 122 are flexible connecting members that allow for relative movement of the pliable splints 118A and 118B. The connectors 122 can be formed of a resilient material as needed and/or desired.

The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the dental field from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Also, although there is no commercially available direct resin system with self-etching capability, common sense says dentists can expect one in the near future. The recent market entries of self-etching resin cements and adhesives systems suggest that the industry is close to developing a restorative system that will have self-etching capability. Thus, a self-etching resin cements and/or adhesives can be used for apply the resin dental arch bars of the present disclosure.

Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An intermaxillary fixation kit comprising: a container; a plurality of ligature connectors disposed in the container; and at least one dental arch bar disposed in the container, the at least one dental arch bar including an elongated pliable splint including an interiorly facing side surface and an exteriorly facing side surface, the pliable splint being in a moldable state and including a curable component that cures to from a moldable state to a rigid state upon being activated; and a plurality of individual attachment members spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the pliable splint, the attachment members including an anchoring portion and a protuberance portion, the anchoring portion being at least partially embedded in the pliable splint, and the protuberance portion extending from the anchoring portion and being disposed on the exteriorly facing side surface of the pliable splint.
 2. The intermaxillary fixation kit according to claim 1, further comprising a light curing device configured to output a light having a prescribed wavelength that cures the curable component upon application of the light on the pliable splint for a prescribed period of time.
 3. The intermaxillary fixation kit according to claim 1, wherein the ligature connectors include two different sizes.
 4. The intermaxillary fixation kit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dental arch bar includes two of the dental arch bars.
 5. An intermaxillary fixation kit comprising a primer; a bonding agent; a plurality of ligature connectors; and at least one dental arch bar including an elongated pliable splint including an interiorly facing side surface and an exteriorly facing side surface, the pliable splint including a curable component that cures to from a moldable state to a rigid state upon being activated; and a plurality of individual attachment members spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the pliable splint, the attachment members including an anchoring portion and a protuberance portion, the anchoring portion being at least partially embedded in the pliable splint, and the protuberance portion extending from the anchoring portion and being disposed on the exteriorly facing side surface of the pliable splint.
 6. An intermaxillary fixation method comprising: placing a first dental arch bar, which includes a first elongated pliable splint with a plurality of first individual attachment members at least partially embedded within the first elongated pliable splint, against one of upper and lower teeth of a patient such that the first elongated pliable splint of the first dental arch bar contacts and conforms to the one of the upper and lower teeth and such that the first individual attachment members are located at predetermined locations along on an exteriorly facing side surface of the first elongated pliable splint that faces away from the one of upper and lower teeth; curing the first elongated pliable splint of the first dental arch bar from a moldable state to a rigid state while the first dental arch bar is disposed on the one of upper and lower teeth; placing a second dental arch bar, which includes a second elongated pliable splint with a plurality of second individual attachment members at least partially embedded within the first elongated pliable splint, against the other of the upper and lower teeth of the patient such that the second elongated pliable splint of the second dental arch bar contacts and conforms to the other of the upper and lower teeth and such that the second individual attachment members are located at predetermined locations along on an exteriorly facing side surface of the second elongated pliable splint that faces away from the one of upper and lower teeth; curing the second elongated pliable splint of the second dental arch bar from a moldable state to a rigid state while the first dental arch bar is disposed on the one of upper and lower teeth; and securing one or more the first and second individual attachment members together with connectors.
 7. The intermaxillary fixation method of claim 6, wherein the curing of the first and second elongated pliable splints are performed after both of the first and second elongated pliable splints are placed on the upper and lower teeth of the patient.
 8. The intermaxillary fixation method of claim 6, wherein the curing of the first elongated pliable splints is performed before the second elongated pliable splint is placed on the other of the upper and lower teeth of the patient. 